The Coastal States Organization represents the nation’s Coastal States, Territories, and Commonwealths on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resource issues.

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Most beaches have a natural defense against rising seas: The sandy area simply moves landward. But when property owners install sea walls or other barriers to protect beachfront homes and other buildings, the beach has nowhere to go. So it vanishes underwater.

Geologists call it coastal squeeze. It’s not a new problem, but it’s been accelerating recently as climate change causes sea levels to rise. And that’s prompting urgent questions about how coastal landscapes should be managed.

At issue is a legal concept from the sixth century A.D., when Emperor Justinian ordered the codification of Roman laws. The resulting code declared that features of nature like the air, running water, the sea, and “the shores of the sea” must be held in trust for the use of the public. That idea passed into English common law, and then to the United States.

Today, most states define the beach below the high-tide line as public trust property, meaning members of the public have free access.

As a result, environmentalists, regulators, surfers, and others say that landowners must not install sea walls or other coastal armor that will inevitably doom public beaches to disappear. On the other hand, owners of beachfront houses, hotels, and other properties argue that if rules against coastal armor cause their private property to vanish beneath the waves, then they must be compensated for their losses.

The result is an impasse playing out from Hawaii to South Carolina.”

-Cornelia Dean for the New York Times

Read more here.

The legislation provides $81,500,000 for coastal management grants, equal to the amount appropriated by Congress in FY 2024 and the amount allocated by NOAA in FY2025. These grants are the primary source of federal funding for state and territory coastal zone management programs (CZMPs). These funds, which are matched dollar-for-dollar by states and territories, support the core functions of coastal zone management programs. To be eligible to receive these funds, states and territories must have federally approved coastal zone management plans. Currently, 34 coastal states and territories receive annual federal funds for coastal management.

The passage of the CJS appropriations bill by the committee, comes just two and a half weeks after the Trump Administration released details of their proposed NOAA budget for FY 2026. The Administration, as part of their ongoing efforts to shrink the federal government, proposed the elimination of all coastal management grants along with several other programs within the National Ocean Service. In response, to the Trump administration’s proposal to eliminate these programs, more than one thousand coastal stakeholders, including ports, harbormasters, local government officials, national and local businesses and organizations, and coastal community residents called on Congress to fund coastal zone management efforts.

The Senate’s decision to set aside the President’s proposal and maintain funding for these programs is recognition of the value CZMPs bring to their communities, states and the nation as a whole. While the passage of the Senate bill in committee is promising, CZMPs still have a long funding fight ahead.

Read the complete statement here.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has released a mapping study that models and predicts the most suitable areas for Delaware’s tidal wetlands to migrate as the state experiences sea level rise as an impact of climate change. Marsh migration is the movement of tidal wetlands from their current habitat, away from rising sea levels toward higher and drier ground, to avoid being drowned. Originating from the DNREC Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program and the DNREC Coastal Programs, the marsh migration modeling study is built from numerous mapping layers which, when combined, were scored on a rating from 12 (highly suitable) down to 0 (unsuitable) as locations where tidal wetlands might move to in the state. Ground where the tidal wetlands have migrated from is eventually flooded and becomes open water. Knowing where these wetlands could migrate to is critical for land use managers and property owners and helps DNREC environmental scientists and biologists with their work ensuring that wetlands have a future along Delaware’s coasts. Delaware’s 2-foot, 4-foot and 7-foot sea level rise scenarios were used in the suitability analysis. Read more here.

Maryland – Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund Provides $29 Million for Ecological Restoration Projects

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is awarding $29 million from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund to 27 ecological restoration projects encompassing 160 sites throughout the state for Fiscal Year 2026. These projects were selected based on their ability to improve water quality and provide other benefits such as resilience to climate impacts, habitat enhancement, and environmental justice considerations. These projects deploy best management practices including streamside tree buffer plantings, reforestation, stream restoration, stormwater management, living shorelines, agricultural practices, and wetland creation. “Restoring the Chesapeake Bay watershed requires partnerships and the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund is one of our best tools to help local communities develop effective solutions to improve water quality, habitat, and access to nature,” said Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz. “These grants will help limit harmful pollutants from entering our waterways while improving the economic viability of Maryland’s waterfront and maritime communities.” Read more here.

Scientists are trying to identify the reasons behind the phenomenon of seaweed buildup periodically blanketing Galveston beaches and other locales along the Texas coast, which has turned into a semi-annual event. Peter Morton, an associate research scientist with the Texas A&M Department of Oceanography, said sargassum — a specific type of seaweed — has long been native to the Atlantic Ocean, but has only recently begun to grow exponentially. What is unique about the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt is that it formed outside of the Sargasso Sea — which is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North America. Morton said the sargassum belt has extended far outside of the Sargasso Sea’s traditional boundaries, stretching in some cases all the way to the coast of Africa. The natural currents of the Atlantic Ocean cause this great mass of seaweed to periodically drift from Africa to South America and eventually to North America, where it is deposited on beaches along the Texas and Florida coastlines, Morton said. Morton said researchers have not yet been able to confidently identify what is causing the influx of sargassum in the Atlantic, but that some of the leading theories place the partial blame on human-made pollutants that have made their way into the ocean. Read more here.

Mississippi – Oyster Spawning Begins as MDMR-USM Hatcher Program Enters Production Phase Using Mobile Hatchery

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) and the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC) have launched the next phase of the Aquaculture Advanced Seed Production Training Program. Beginning July 12, participants will spawn oysters using a mobile hatchery. This phase will also include activities related to larval culture, setting pediveligers and grading seed. The program offers 100 hours of free advanced hatchery training for Mississippi’s oyster farmers and aquaculture professionals. Designed to support the expansion of off-bottom oyster aquaculture in the state, the program focuses on developing technical skills in water quality management, broodstock conditioning, larval care, seed production and hatchery operations. “This partnership with USM is a major step forward in supporting and strengthening Mississippi’s oyster industry,” said MDMR Executive Director Joe Spraggins. “Entering this next phase with the mobile hatchery will help participants build on the long-term success of the program and helps ensure a more sustainable future for the seafood industry.” Read more here.

The Bayfront East Side Taskforce (BEST) has officially launched its Same Day Work and Pay litter cleanup initiative, thanks to a $15,000 Coastal Zone Management grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. This is one of seven projects in Pennsylvania selected for this round of funding. BEST is hiring approximately ten workers per cleanup, partnering with local service organizations such as the Erie City Mission to connect individuals with immediate, same-day employment. Participants help remove trash from sidewalks, streets, greenspaces, and city parks in Erie’s Historic East Bayfront neighborhood, and are paid $100 in cash at the end of the day. The program kicked off Tuesday, July 15, with BEST providing personal protective equipment, lunch, and pay to the team of workers. By midday, volunteers had already collected 54 pounds of trash. This project aligns with the goals of the DEP’s Coastal Resources Management Program, which supports projects that protect coastal ecosystems, reduce pollution, and provide environmental education. Read more here.

Ohio – Department of Natural Resources and Partners Celebrate the H2OHIO Moxley Wildlife Area Wetland Project

As part of Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio Initiative, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Erie Conservation District held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly completed wetland project at Moxley Wildlife Area in Erie County along Sandusky Bay. The H2Ohio Moxley Wildlife Area Wetland Reconnection project reconnects 57 acres of wetlands in the Western Lake Erie Basin to the Sandusky Bay, which will improve the quality of the water flowing in and out of Sandusky Bay. “H2Ohio is specifically designed to identify and complete high-quality wetland projects like this one,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Improving the water flowing through Sandusky Bay will ultimately improve water quality in Lake Erie, which is exactly what we set out to do when creating H2Ohio nearly six years ago.” The H2Ohio Moxley Wetland project is unique because it can filter sediments and nutrients in two ways. A new water control structure built into the wetland can hold water that overflows from Lake Erie’s bay during high wind and wave events and filter out nutrients naturally before the water flows back into the lake. Additionally, the wetland will hold water from high rainfall and storm events, creating a place nutrients can be taken up instead of flowing downstream. Read more here.

Last year, Oregon added the Southern Resident orca to the state’s endangered species list, giving it added protections nearly two decades after it was federally listed under the endangered species act in 2005. Now, a new draft management plan has been released by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to help whale numbers. Currently there are 73 Southern Resident orcas traveling in three pods along the West Coast. About 48 whales within two of those pods spend time here in Oregon. There are three main causes for declining whale numbers, including loss of prey, disturbance from vessels and environmental contaminants. Howard Takata, the Southern Resident Orca conservation coordinator with ODFW, explained that the Oregon coast is “an important travel corridor for the majority of the Southern Residents. Also, the mouth of the Columbia River, in particular, is considered a foraging hotspot for them, early in the springtime, when Spring Chinook salmon are returning to the Columbia.” Read more here.

California’s Ambitious 1,230-Mile Coastal Trail Has Been in the Works for Decades – Here’s How to Hike it Right Now

The California Coastal Trail (CCT) is a system of publicly accessible trails along the entire coast of California, from the Mexican border in the south to the Oregon border in the north. The California Coastal Commission tells us that the trail is now roughly 70% complete, with sections of the trail comprising paved sidewalks, footpaths, bike paths, and periodic road shoulders. That said, you can hike much of the trail in its current state. The 1975 California Coastal Plan first called for a continuous trail system along the California coast, but it wasn’t until 1999 that Governor Gray Davis designated the project as an official state trail called California’s Millennium Legacy Trail, which spurred action in the state and federal governments to break ground. Since 2001, the California Coastal Conservancy, California Coastal Commission, California State Parks, and Caltrans have worked with the California Coastal Trail Association and other nonprofits to make the trail a reality. Their common goal is to provide public access along the entirety of the coast, foster appreciation and stewardship of the state’s natural environment, and encourage outdoor recreation. Read more here.

To foster climate resilient fisheries and fishing communities around the world, the Blue Convergence Fund aims to fund projects and support engagement that advance (1) our understanding of climate resilient fisheries and (2) climate resilient fisheries management practices and strategies around the world. This request for proposals (RFP) will support science-based efforts and collaborations that use existing knowledge to catalyze climate resilient fisheries practices and strategies. Specifically, this RFP will support projects where new research is not the primary focus, but rather activities that bring people together to promote knowledge exchange, the uptake of research into management, network building, and planning and implementation. Projects should be 18-24 months in duration with a maximum total budget of $150,000 USD. Proposals are due September 4, 2025. Learn more here.

[NEW] Bow Seat’s True Blue Fellowship

The True Blue Fellowship offers peer-mentorship, capacity building, and funding of up to $2,500 USD to youth who are developing projects that address ocean, waterways, and/or climate issues through a creative arts lens. The Fellowship is free to enter and open to youth ages 13 – 24 worldwide, whether as individuals, classes, groups, clubs, or organizations. Applications are due September 1st. Learn more here.

[NEW] Study: United States of Plastics Report Examines State Progress Against Plastic Pollution

The Ocean Conservancy’s “United States of Plastics” report offers a tool for advocates and decisionmakers in each state to assess their progress against plastic pollution and identify opportunities for local action. A study by Ocean Conservancy in 2024 found that nearly 80% of Americans consider plastic pollution to be the most pressing problem for the health of our ocean. The United States is the number one generator of plastic waste worldwide and a major producer of virgin plastic. The “United States of Plastics” report analyzes laws to address plastic pollution in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. and assigns a score to each on a five-point scale. Read more here.

NOAA Webinar Series: Sargassum Research, Management, and Impacts

NOAA’s Southeast and Caribbean Regional Collaboration Team is launching a five part webinar series to raise awareness about key issues surrounding sargassum. Each webinar will highlight different aspects of sargassum research, management, and its impacts on coastal communities and ecosystems. The goal of this series is to foster knowledge-sharing and regional collaboration across affected areas as impacts continue from recent sargassum inundation events. See the NOAA website for details and registration.

Study: Impacts of Rock Sill Design on Sediment Dynamics and Marsh Stability in Living Shorelines

Rock sills are commonly placed at the seaward edge of constructed marshes in living shoreline projects to reduce erosion, stabilize shorelines, and improve coastal resilience. However, it is not clear how the design of these sills, whether continuous or segmented, affects sediment dynamics and marsh stability. In this study, two marsh sill living shorelines are investigated — one featuring tidal gaps and the other without — in comparison with an adjacent natural marsh in Ocean City, Maryland, USA. The analysis focuses on changes in surface elevation, sediment and vegetation characteristics, and offshore suspended sediment concentration (SSC) through field survey. Read more here.

ASBPA Student Award Nominations Now Open

The Students and New Professionals (SNP) Chapter of ASBPA announces student award nominations to be awarded at the National Coastal Conference this October 7 – 10 in Long Beach, CA. Awards and scholarships are open to undergraduate and graduate students. ASBPA Student Awards and poster abstracts are due by August 15. Note: self-nominations are encouraged! Learn more here.

Funding Opportunity: Port Infrastructure Development Program

The US Department of Transportation has announced up to $500 million in funding for the Fiscal Year 2025 Port Infrastructure Development Program. State governments, County governments, Native American Tribal governments, special district governments, and city governments are eligible to apply. The deadline is September 10, 2025. Learn more here.

ASBPA National Coastal Conference 2025 Call for Abstracts

The ASBPA is excited to share the call for abstracts is open for the “Coasts on the Leading Edge: Bridging Science, Policy and Community” on October 7-10 in Long Beach, California. Technical, policy-oriented, and coastal floodplain resource and flood risk management presentations or posters are invited for a broad range of coastal and estuarine ecology, science, engineering, economics, and policy. We will also have sessions on the Blue Flag USA Award criteria such as environmental management; water quality; beach accessibility; beach safety and operations; and community engagement. Abstracts are due August 15 for Poster Presentations. Learn more here.

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